Off to Nepal

Teizeen:

We leave for Nepal tomorrow morning from Varanasi, and we will be there for the next three weeks.  Other than 1-2 days in Kathmandu at the start and the end of these three weeks, we will spend most of our time in Nepal on a 16-day trek called the 'Annapurna Circuit.'

Since we will have no access to internet during our trek, you can follow our daily itinerary by following this link that details our daily trek itinerary: http://www.adventureaves.com/Annapurnacircuit.html

We will have the help of porters to carry our big packs, and we will only be carrying day packs with our water for the day and extra layers of clothing, etc.  Trekking in this region of Nepal is predominantly in the form of a 'teahouse trek', which involves staying in teahouses along the way (there are several scattered in this region, which is very well travelled), where food and accomodation is provided.  The teahouses are nothing fancy, more like huts I think, but it does eliminate the need to carry tents and food.  Our living quarters will not be heated (though the dining areas might be), we'll be sharing showers and toilets/outhouses with other trekkers, and electricity is not available at most of the teahouses.  So, it's like camping in a hut without a tent while carrying fewer things.

So, armed with plenty of extra batteries, a solar-rechargeable UV water purifier, warm sleeping bags, warm clothing, and plenty of other gear, we are about to embark on what will likely be one of the mose scenic and amazing mountain experiences we have had so far - and probably one of the most physically challenging experiences for me (in addition to potentially cold temperatures). 

You'll here more about how it really went in about 3 weeks, so stay tuned...